Here's a new twist in Art Applewhite's UFO-series o' rockets.... Aye aye! t' Cone Rocket! I'm callin' it a Cone UFO just t' keep with t' theme o' what Art Applewhite Rockets seems t' have a knack (and niche) in.

This be t' 18mm Orange version. Begad! Begad! Blimey! There are also 13mm, arrr, matey, 24mm, and 29mm versions in Stars & Stripes, Mirror Gold, Silver, matey, matey, Yellow and Texas Special. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey!

Also, in keepin' with what Art Applewhite does best, me hearties, this is a straightforward kit with very few parts. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It has more parts than his standard UFO and Delta UFO, but still it is a rocket that can be assembled in about 1 hour. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit includes a 18mm motor mount tube, matey, a 19mm nose cone tube, a 36" round-elastic shock cord, color/design cardstock for top and reinforcin' Strip, me hearties, cardstock for t' nose cone, matey, shock cord anchor, and engine block, and finally foam-board, with preprinted patterns for t' nosecone base and t' bottom.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 4 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. They include black and white photos t' assist in t' buildin' process. Begad! Aye aye! T' tools and supplies that are needed are outlined: Scissors, me hearties, #11 Exacto® Knife, Elmer's Glue-All®, 5-Minute Epoxy and 220 girt sandpaper. Aye aye! Begad! You are then warned t' read through t' entire instructions before beginning. I agree.

Assembly is described in a logical order and I had no issues buildin' this rocket, ya bilge rat, except one. Aye aye! Be sure you have your two motor tubes before you start. Well, blow me down! My 18mm tube was slid into me 19mm tube and I never realized that I needed two tubes until I got t' t' steps requirin' t' second tube. Begad! Begad! I found mine, inside t' other and it is a very good thin' that no glue had gotten on it!

T' instructions have you build t' two sections o' t' Cone UFO. Blimey! Blimey! First you cut out t' nose cone from t' cardstock. This is then formed and glued. This is actually an inner support structure verse what we think o' as traditional nose cones. Begad! Blimey! A unique support method for this paper rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! This nose cone takes all t' ejection abuse. Aye aye! Blimey! It also provided t' nose weight needed for stability. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! Once t' cone is formed it is filled t' a described level with 5-minute epoxy. Begad! Blimey! T' inside is also coated with epoxy t' strengthen it. Well, blow me down! Then after cuttin' out t' nose cone base from t' 1/4" foam board and usin' JUST t' 19mm tube, t' remainder o' t' nose cone is assembled. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! T' shockcord is also attached here betwixt t' 19mm tube and t' foam board base.

T' foam board is cut t' same as on Art Applewhite's other UFO's. Ahoy! Usin' your hobby knife, cut out t' patterns. Begad! Cut out t' centers t' make t' motor mount holes and t' launch rod holes. Begad! Then t' most difficult part o' construction; cuttin' t' bevel edge on t' outside edges. This has t' be done twice on this Cone UFO; for t' nose cone base and for t' bottom. Be sure t' use a new blade and take your time. Aye aye! Aye aye! Doin' those two things makes this a lot easier than it sounds.

T' colored cardstock is then used t' cut out t' cone (body) and t' reinforcin' ring. Ahoy! Avast! T' cone body is formed usin' a glue tab. Aye aye! Then t' nose cone that be initially assembled is installed into t' tip o' t' colored cone body. Blimey! This really adds strength and t' weight t' t' rocket's nose as well as helps in formin' a nice tip.

T' bottom is simply t' 1/4" foam board with t' 18mm motor mount attached; flush t' t' bottom. Blimey! T' thrust rin' is added by cuttin' t' long strip from t' cardstock, rollin' it, and gluin' it into t' motor tube. There are also good instructions t' ensure that you have a nice fit for t' 18mm tube into t' 19mm tube.

Lastly t' shockcord is mounted t' t' bottom usin' t' 3-fold paper method. Avast! That's it.

Art Applewhite Rockets indicates you may paint t' rocket or at "a minimum you should apply at least two light coats o' clear enamel" t' protect t' rocket. Ya scallywag! I passed.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Because me two tubes were shipped inside each other, me bucko, matey, I could have run into a real problem. Well, blow me down! Yes, thar be a parts picture that shows two tubes, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but I'm sure like many builders, I just dug right into it. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Perhaps t' note in step 7 should be expanded t' say, matey, "if t' 18mm tube is in t' 19mm tube, shiver me timbers, matey, separate them now". Avast, me proud beauty! I'm bein' hypercritical here!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Art Applewhite recommends an A8-3, me bucko, B4-2, B6-2, arrr, B6-4, C6-3 or C6-5 for flyin' t' 18mm Cone UFO. T' motors are t' be friction fit into t' motor mount and flush with t' thrust ring. Begad! T' rocket is expected t' weigh 1 ounce. Ya scallywag! My rocket weighed 0.9 ounces.

Flight preparation includes slidin' t' 18mm motor mount into t' 19mm nose cone tube. Ya scallywag! Begad! Then pushin' t' shockcord into t' rocket, me hearties, opposite side o' t' launch rod holes, before pushin' t' bottom flush with t' cone tube.

I have flow t' 18mm version 3 times in me front yard. Blimey! Yes, this is a nice feature o' these UFO rockets. Begad! Arrr! They can be front (or back) yard rockets since they get very little altitude. Well, blow me down! I flew mine on an A8-3, me hearties, then a B6-4, shiver me timbers, and then an A8-3 again.

All t' flights were t' stable. Well, blow me down! Begad! They all went straight up, shiver me timbers, matey, inverted t' start descent and then, matey, based on t' delay, shiver me timbers, popped t' ejection charge. Aye aye! T' A8-3 needs t' be an A8-1 if you were t' eject at apogee. Avast, me proud beauty! Also, since you get maybe 50 feet o' altitude on t' A8, me bucko, t' ejection charge can be quite loud. Ya scallywag! It startled me wife on t' first one!

T' B6-4 could stand a 2 or 3 second delay t' eject at apogee.

My third flight (A8-3) kicked t' motor out at ejection with some force. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Be sure it is in tight. Begad! Blimey! Since t' ejection volume is so little, shiver me timbers, it has a lot o' pressure, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and can make that motor a hot, shiver me timbers, flyin' projectile.

All three flights also demonstrated t' success o' t' tumble recovery system. Aye aye! Blimey! I even caught a picture o' it falling!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 5 points. Flights are low and slow. Begad! Makes it a good demo rocket. You don't need wadding. Avast! Overall, me bucko, a unique lookin' and fun flyin' rocket.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Aye aye! Ahoy! Other than me hypercritical comments, arrr, arrr, I see this as a "perfect" rocket for its price, me bucko, instructions, arrr, assembly and flight characteristics. I may have t' go purchase a 29mm one for some fun with EconoJets!